Uncle Jeff

Many of us have loving uncles. Close family members who grew-up with our parents and treat us with affection when we are young.

 

Imagine your loving uncle was bitingly sarcastic, a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, a cutting-edge PhD cybernetics genius, and a bit of a hard drinker... and you've come close to knowing Stanley Ross' Uncle Jeff.

 

A man who's love for his family runs deep, but whose abundant faith in science and high-facility with abstract mathematic thought is only matched by his difficulty in dealing with the concrete realities of everyday life.

 

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Read this moment from the novel to get to know Jeffrey Ross, and the book's human side, a little bit better:

 

"Dr. Ross, I really don't think you're funny."

 

"Not many people do, Mrs. Hanson. My sense of humor is an acquired taste, much like my coffee. Would you like a cup, by the way? Just to warn you, you may not sleep for a week after ingesting it."

 

"No, no thank you. And I should warn you, Dr. Ross, that this interview is a formality--a courtesy even. The state has already made up its mind. You can make this easy or you can make it hard, but try to keep Stanley's best interests in mind." Mrs. Hanson was gathering her things.

 

"You met Stanley for five minutes. I've been his uncle for thirteen years. How can you possibly think you know better than I what's in his best interest?"

 

"Because my opinion is unbiased."

 

"Everyone's opinion is biased! That's what an opinion is!"

 

"Raising your voice to me certainly won't help, Dr. Ross. I'll show myself out."

 

Jeff heard the door close a moment later.

 

~ "The Chip" by George Jack; pp.93-94

 

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Art by Shamus Beyale.

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